MARYLAND FOOD TRADITIONS FEATURED AT FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL

BALTIMORE (May 25, 2016) - Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council, documents and supports living traditions, or those cultural practices that are passed down by word of mouth or example.

One way to think about living traditions is through food - how we get it, prepare it, and consume it. There is no denying that food brings people together and that it is tied to our understandings of cultural identity and senses of place.

While attending the 6th Annual Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival on June 4 at the Creative Alliance, stop by the Foodways Tent on East Avenue to see live demonstrations of food traditions that highlight Maryland's cultural diversity! Baltimore food writer and researcher Mary Zajac will emcee the demos all day.

Visitors can learn how to make momos, or Nepali dumplings, with Nepal House restaurant (Baltimore City); tamales with members of Artesanas Mexicanas (Baltimore City); traditional Ethiopian delicacies with Taste of Ethiopia (Metro DC); sour beef and dumplings with members of Zion Lutheran Church (Baltimore City); Lumbee collard sandwiches with Rosie's Bakery (Baltimore City); and pierogies with members of Holy Rosary Church (Baltimore City).

On the sidewalk of East Avenue, husband-and-wife team Tebabu Assefa and Sara Mussie of Blessed Coffee (Montgomery County) will host Ethiopian coffee ceremonies throughout the day. The ceremonies are meant to encourage dialogue, and to remind us that coffee is not just a beverage but a way of building community.

Food vendors will also be on hand to offer traditional foods from around the world. Festival-goers can sample Nepali delicacies from Nepal House (Baltimore City), Caribbean food from PJ's Restaurant on Wheels (Baltimore City), Ethiopian food from Taste of Ethiopia (Metro DC), south Mediterranean gyros and falafel from Halal Food Cart (Baltimore City); Reubens and deli sandwiches from Corned Beef King (Montgomery County); and ice cream from Prigel Family Creamery (Baltimore County).